Progress in the Kitchen

We’re making progress! The hole is bigger now. The bead board is up. Just need to work on some trim. I took a cabinet door off from anther area to create an open shelf and I was going to use that door. Then we decided it might be better to hang on to that door for future owners. So we picked up a new door at the Restore the other day. We actually got 2 for $2. It’s the lighter one leaning against the wall.



Even just swapping out the old plugs and plates make a difference. We reused some of the corner trim. That will all get painted. And see that outlet on the wall above the doors? That placement bugs me. Why is it there?



We also replaced the pantry door. The old one was just a plain hollow core door that was stained like the trim. It had a hole it in from banging up against the corn of the counter. Even though it’s not painted it makes a huge difference in the room. I can’t wait to do replace more doors. Here’s a shot from the realtor when we looked at the house to show you what the plan is on this side. It’s a disaster zone at the moment.





Even though my kitchen is a wreck it did not stop me from making these little pieces of heaven. I found the lava cake recipe at Pioneer Woman’s site. It's not the best shot to show off the warm gooey goodness but I was trying to hurry because they were fresh from the oven and my whipped cream was melting and it was calling to me to hurry and eat it. The boys had theirs with mint chocolate chip ice cream. Heaven I tell you. Easy and fast too.



So, that's where we are now. Can you see it lightening up? I sure can. More to come.

see ya,

Bathroom Caddy

Thank you all for all the sweet comments on the new bathroom. They all made me smile. I am so happy that it is done. I wanted to show you my caddy for the back of the potty. I don't have storage in here so I needed  something for a few towels and tissues. The spare roll of tp I'm working on. Trying to find a small metal bucket or basket. I had a basket but it was sort tight which resulted in torn tp. Can't have that.

I have had this metal container for a long time. Long time. Which is why it's hunter green and brass. Just never got rid of it because I loved the size.

I gathered some supplies. I just had to buy the gloss white and the ribbon. The ribbon was about $3 for 9' so lots of that left. I had the primer, jute and well as you can see, the glue gun. The glue gun has to be over 20yrs old. I think I got my moneys worth out of it. Quick funny story, hubby and I kept smelling something burning last night. I was checking everything. It was the glue gun I had left on for about 2 hours. The thing is indestructible. Lucky I didn't burn down the house though.

I started with the primer, then 2 coats of the glossy white. I had planned on painting this ribbed part but it was not going well so after I erased my mess with another quick coat of white I went with the ribbon and jute. Just a dab of glue to hold the ends down, then wrap it around. The ribbon is just tied in the back. It was the front but hubby wasn't digging the bow. Whatever. I just turned it around.

There you have it. Under $10 and under 1 hour. Spray paint dries pretty darn fast. 

So I'm joining up with Melissa @ 320 Sycamore for her little party.

and

Finally....The Bathroom

Hey everyone. Remember this mess? It took awhile but the bathroom is done. For those who are just arriving you can read more about the progress and what a mess it was here and here. Then there was the board and batten vs bead board issue that you all helped me think through here and here. Feel free to revisit and reminisce won't you? Without further adieu may I present....

The new bathroom! Let me say it's hard to take shots in a 5x5 space. But I did, just for you all. We did steal some space from the garage so no, your eyes are not deceiving you. My closet was not that big.

Here is how we solved the change in tile issue. The tile in the laundry room was still available but the dye lot was off. So, we went with a different tile, slightly smaller in size and used the transition piece in the doorway.

I couldn't go too frilly in here as it will be mostly used by my hubby. Hence the fishing magazines. Just noticed I forgot to put the shells in the jar. Oye!

I was short one hook but I went and predrilled it. This bath is just off the pool so I wanted lots of hooks for all of the towels. My original thought was to use boat cleats. Holy cow, those things are expensive. Hooks will do.

Okay, I slipped in a little bit of flowers. But they're in a manly color.

This used to be hunter green and brass. I'll show that on another post. Just gave it a little bit of a redo.

I have something else in mind for the towel ring. I'll show you if it works out.

I love the square sink and lights.The mirror is my little bit of pretty. But made out of wood so still manly right?

 Here is a wrap up of what I used. Everything else I already had.

Paint: BM Ocean Air (top) BM Chantilly Lace (bead board and trim)

Sink and Toilet: Archer by Kohler @ Home Depot

Faucet: Treveso by Price Pfister @ Tuesday Morning

Magazine Bucket: Tuesday Morning

Hooks, Light, Tile: Home Depot

Mirror: TjMaxx/Home Goods

Towel Ring/Towels: Marshalls

Linking up to:

Cottage Instincts Blue and Brown Bonanza
Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday 
Thrifty Decor Chick Before and After 

Trashcan Facelift

Trash cans. They should look good too. I am trying to gather things for the new bathroom and use stuff I have already. That was my goal so many months ago. To use more of what I have. I should try to remember that more often.

This is what I had. It was one piece when I bought it. But when we were packing to move here it for some reason fell apart. So, I just threw the rope in the can and threw it all in a box. It's been like that for over a year now.

So, I rewrapped it all and used some hot glue to keep it together. That was fun. Wrap, glue, hold, scream, wave hand, repeat. This is it all back together. It had been painted this mossy green. Not bad. But not good for the bathroom.

Out came some paint samples. I used some Palladium Blue from the dining room. You can see it in the background. I just dry brushed it on.  But still too much green showing through for me.

So, I did some more. Even though this picture looks exactly the same as the one above. Hmmm, trust me there is more on it.

You can see it better from this angle. Which is really the angle you will be seeing it at when you are at the sink and from well, you know, the potty.

Bead board is going in as I type. I hear saws and nail guns. I'm scared to look.

Linking up with:

Coastal Charms Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Debbiedoos Before and After Party
The DIY Showoff Project Parade
Domestically Speaking Power of Paint Party

Thinking Things Through

Sorry for the panicky post late last night. The idea for the board and batten came after we had started the project so I told the contractor I would do it myself. Not thinking it would be so hard in a 5x5 room. I had assumed the pedestal sink would be freestanding. Yes, I know what happens when you assume. :) I didn't think it would be caulked to the wall. Does anyone have a pedestal that is caulked to the wall? I did google it and some are apparently. Here are more pictures. Do you know how hard it is to take shots inside a tiny bathroom? Geez.

Here are some solutions I came up with. I'm going to type them all out in hopes that it will help me figure it out.

1. Put the top rail all around as planned at 60" and just put the battens on the 3 other walls.

2. Put the top rail and battens on just the 3 other wall and paint the sink wall all one color. Though only the top half has the orange peel texture.

3. Top rail up all around and paint stripes below, no battens

4. Top rail up all around and wall paper below (eek!)

5. Run a board or trim piece above the sink so the battens meet up with the trim board.

6. Have them remove the sink so that the batten could be run down behind the sink. Though the sink won't sit flush with the wall because of the battens. To remedy that he suggested that a board be mounted behind the sink. The battens would meet up with the top of the board and the sink would be mounted to the board.

7. Nix the battens and remove the sink (I guess the toilet too) and put up bead board.

edited: Toilet won't be a problem, plumbing is through the base board. 

Lesson learned, what looks easy never is. You would think I would have learned this by now. So, what say you? I would love to hear some opinions, I know you have them.

S.O.S!

Attention everyone! I need you all to put on your thinking caps. I'm in a bit of a panic. Nothing major. Just some board and batten issues. I had it all visualized in the new half bath. I just didn't think it through completely I guess.

The plumber was here today. He installed the sink and toilet. I was very excited. They look great. But now my vision of my board and batten is getting a little fuzzy. How do I install it around my pretty new sink? It's a pedestal sink. Sort of square. It's 24" wide. I would take a picture for you but I don't have a light yet in there. Ugh! So, think everyone think! How should the battens go around the sink? I have no back splash. The toilet is to the left of the sink. My line for the top rail is at 60". High so I can hang pool towels in there. The top part is lightly textured and he left the bottom part smooth to better simulate a wood finish. Why oh why did I not think about the battens around this 24" sink? I'm not going to sleep. I should have put them in before the sink went in. Ack! I have to figure something out. We are so close to the end. Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks. 

Here is a shot of what I sort of wanted it to look like. Only I have a pedestal sink and no back splash. I have 1x6 for the baseboard, and planned to use 1x4 for the top rail and was going to use 1x2 for the battens.

oursuburbancottage

Here's my sink

Bathroom Update

The wheel of progress move slowly. My bathroom is coming along but red tape and weather have been slowing things down. The inspector broke his ribs and so back up incurred in the inspection process apparently all around this small town of ours. Sadly my closet that looked like this.... 

....now only looks like this. Still much left to do. But I'm loving the pocket door. Tile has been picked out. I could not go with the same tile as the colors had changed slightly. But I think it will blend okay. I went with a slightly smaller 16x16 tile too instead of the 18x18 that's in the laundry. Otherwise there wouldn't be many whole tiles in that small space. I have a transition piece picked out to blend the two tiles.

Johnny is still outside gracing my yard. So my son helped me give him a little holiday flare. Who knows how long he'll be around so why not spruce him up with a little Fall decor? Hopefully he won't be around long enough to be strung up with Christmas lights.